Trying to convince the selectors to give him a look-in in an Indian one-day side that recently won the ICC Champions Trophy and then went on to impress in the West Indies, was never going to be an easy task, but Yuvraj Singh did the only thing he could have done - let the bat do all the talking and then some.
The classy southpaw flayed the West Indian bowlers left, right and centre in his patented style, carving out 123 runs from just 89 balls as India A romped to a 77-run win over West Indies A in their one-dayer at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.
For Yuvraj, this series is all about proving to the selectors that he is now fit enough - in mind, body and soul -- to be considered for the Indian senior team; that he can be the Yuvraj of old.
The innings was all the more impressive as Yuvraj, now nearly 32, came into the match having not played a single competitive game since the IPL in May.
However, the left-hander said the century was the result of the extensive work he had put in during the off-season.
"The doctors said it would take me about a year to get fully fit," Yuvraj, who won his battle with cancer, said. "My body's improved a lot.
"I was focused on training, where I had my weaknesses, on my lung capacity, my diet, in my off-season with Zak (Zaheer Khan). And, Tim Exeter, whom we trained with (in France), has done wonders for me and Zak in terms of getting back."
For Yuvraj having the mental aspect of the game at 100 percent is as important as being physically fit.
"I always had the belief that when I'm feeling well from inside, when I'm feeling mentally good, I'm going to do well," he said. "It's taken a lot of time because the body has gone through a lot. You just can't go through such a disease (cancer) and come back and say 'OK, I'm going to be a 100 percent.'
"It's just getting better and better with every off-season I've spent. I'm just happy with the way I hit the ball today and hopefully I can carry on this form in the coming months."
Yuvraj was all the more satisfied with his knock as he felt it came against an international calibre bowling attack.
"I think it was a complete international attack," Yuvraj added. "(Andre) Russell has obviously played for West Indies. Ronsford Beaton -- that kid looks really special.
"He looks the future of West Indies fast bowling. He reminded me of Curtly Ambrose. Obviously, Curtly was great. I think he has a lot of potential, and I think they had a very good attack."
